Ratings

Producer

Established in 1928 Stellenrust is one of the largest family owned wine estates in South Africa employing 70 permanent workers. Situated in the rolling foothills of the Helderberg, between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. It consists of 400ha, of which half is stretched over the Golden Triangle area of Stellenbosch which has the best red wine soil and the other half situated high up in the Botterly Hills, renowed for it’s cool climate and late afternoon sea breezes swooping in from Cape town to nurture both excellent white and red wine.
The estate is currently run by 2 brothers Tertius the winemaker and Kobus the Viticulturist. The brothers are following their fathers dream of giving back to the many workers who have given so much to the farm. In 2005 Stellenrust rewarded their farm workers for hard work by empowering them with 100ha of the 400ha as majority shareholders. The estate got Fairtrade accreditation in 2010.
The Boutique Cellar was opened in 2003 producing wine using the French tradition. This is where the JJ Handmade wines were born. People have the opportunity to stomp their own grapes and make their own wine. It is then labelled with their own label. This uses no machinery and only the free running juice through gravity flow – this reached a production of 500 cases.

Grape varieties

Pinotage

Region

Stellenbosch is an important wine region around the historical town of Stellenbosch, 45km east of Cape Town. Intensively farmed it is home to more than 160 wine estates and producers. Stellenbosch has more of the country’s leading producers than any other South African region, though it only produces about 14% of the wine. Its reputation is based on its reds, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Pinotage.

Style

Perfect for a barbecue or picnic, most rosé wine is very gluggable, tasting of strawberries, raspberries and melons, and often has a slight zing. The red grapes are lightly pressed and the juice is left in contact with the skin for a short time to give the wine a pale pink blush. Try as an aperitif or a spritzer.